Chicago Bears: 3 Free Agency Possibilities

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It is finished. The Chicago Bears are now riding a three-game losing streak and are out of the playoffs for the fifth straight year.

But did they really have a chance with the defense they have? Even the offense was off kilter and in disarray. But with so many players headed to free agency this off-season, the Bears can snag a few jewels to build a winning team.

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Last season the Bears took outside linebacker Pernell McPhee off the Baltimore Ravens roster and he fits well in Vic Fangio’s 3-4 scheme. But the Ray McDonald fiasco gave the defense a big hit and they had a hard time recovering from that. That won’t happen again as the Bears look to redeem themselves with players that will make an immediate impact as McPhee has done. Let’s look at who the Bears may target this off-season.

Oct 4, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos defensive end

Malik Jackson

(97) celebrates after a sack of Minnesota Vikings quarterback

Teddy Bridgewater

(5) (left) with linebacker

Danny Trevathan

(59). Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports.

Defensive End

Coach John Fox likes to take players he is familiar with from previous teams and no doubt he will do it here. The Bears are in need of a good interior pass rusher and the Denver Broncos Malik Jackson can do the trick. He is having one heck of a contract year and is just entering his prime. The Broncos are going to have to shell out some hardcore cash to linebacker Von Miller and won’t be able to hold on to Jackson too.

So far this year, Jackson has shined as one of the surprises of the Denver defense this season with one safety, six sacks and 41 tackles, 10 assists and seven passes defended, not to mention the two recovered fumbles. He is an underrated defenseman who displays the massiveness of a true Bears defensive lineman. He will fit nicely in Fangio’s defense and worth the payday.

Linebacker

I’m not going to stop at another possible Bronco here either. As much as Shea McClellin has improved in this position, he is still not the explosive linebacker as the Bears need in the middle.

Whether his poor performance against the Vikings was due to concussion symptoms or his inability to read offenses, the Bears cannot continue to address the middle linebacker deficiencies. That’s where a guy like Danny Trevathan can do wonders for this defense. He is a three-down linebacker who can read the offense well. He can hold up to pass coverage and has a unique skill set that is in high demand in the league.

With rookies Adrian Amos and John Timu ready to learn from a veteran such as Trevathan, the Bears will have a middle linebacker that can make plays. With one touchdown this year, he also has two interceptions, six passes defended and 88 tackles. It’s time for the Bears to cut the apron strings with McClellin and put a linebacker in there that knows how to read quarterbacks.

Dec 6, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller (58) works against San Diego Chargers tackle

Joe Barksdale

(72) as quarterback

Philip Rivers

(17) looks to pass during the third quarter at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Offensive Tackle

For the most part, quarterback Jay Cutler was held safe behind his offensive line until this past Sunday against the Vikings, as he was sacked five times and thoroughly frustrated. There is no doubt there needs to be a tackle that can either compliment Kyle Long‘s transition from guard to tackle or put Long back in his guard position and place a well seasoned player in that spot.

After the loss to the Vikings, Long should go back where he is comfortable, at right guard.

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That opens up the possibility for an impact player such as Joe Barksdale of the San Diego Chargers. He can fill in at right tackle taking the pressure off of Long. The Bears need a tackle that can complement Long and help him give Cutler, or whomever the quarterback will be next year, time to throw and running backs room to run. Barksdale’s signed a one-year, $1 million contract which includes $350,000 in dead money.

I think the Bears will be able to come to an agreement with a solid player at that position this offseason.